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US 3,988,889 AGranted
Cowling arrangement for a turbofan engine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsAnthony Joseph Chamay, James Smith, Thomas Neil Hull, Jr.
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Abstract
A cowling arrangement is provided for a turbofan engine of the variable pitch fan blade type wherein the aft portion of the fan cowling has the ability both to slide axially with respect to the main forward portion, providing an annular intake to increase reverse airflow during reverse pitch fan operation, and to vary radially so as to adjust exit area during normal operation at forward pitch.
Claims9
A fan cowling for a gas turbofan engine said cowling being spaced apart from a core engine to define an annular bypass duct therebetween and comprising:
- a forward fixed portion;
- an aft variable portion including a unison ring in axial alignment with the fixed portion;
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart nozzle flaps disposed to be freely rotatable between limit stops around the aft end of the unison ring such that the differential air pressure existing between the bypass duct airflow and the ambient causes the nozzle flaps to rotate radially outward to a maximum nozzle area position;
- an inflatable bladder in engagement with the unison ring;
- and
- actuating ring means translatably disposed relative to the unison ring between the bladder and nozzle flaps for translating downstream to engage and rotate the nozzle flaps radially inward upon inflation of the bladder to thereby decrease the exhaust area of the bypass duct and prevent the nozzle flaps from being rotated further radially outward by said differential air pressure.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.